How Random Number Generators Keep Casino Websites Fair

You’ve probably seen movies like “21”, where the protagonists found a way to cheat the system using complex math techniques. If you can harness those formulas, surely you can win in online casino games, right?

The quick answer to that is no. Casino websites don’t cheat. Those that do get caught in an instant and get blacklisted.

Sure, you can say that they can rig the programs running the games so that you’ll always lose. All it takes is to alter the codes so that the games never let the players win, right?

That’s all a myth because casino sites use a tool called a Random Number Generator or RNG.

Defining Random Number Generators

Here’s the best way to look at how RNG’s work.

Say you’re playing a game of poker. Before the dealer hands out the cards, he or she has to shuffle them to make sure the cards aren’t arranged in an unfair manner. None of the players nor the dealer will know which cards everyone will get.

When you take that into consideration, luck is the only element left to consider.

Nobody could have told the dealer to put those cards in your hand in that exact order. If you lose several times in a row, it’s because you were unlucky and got the wrong cards. If you won, it was because the random shuffling of the cards worked in your favor.

Casino websites follow the same philosophy even though their games are digital. All their games, including roulette and card games, run on a code of RNG data.

The Guaranteed Fairness of RNG

At the start of a game, the RNG uses a starting number, also called a seed. It will then run an algorithm to calculate a random number based on that seed. The program will use the new randomized number as the new seed for the next digit.

This ensures that the casino cannot rig number combinations. Every new digit runs a different algorithm for the next individual number instead of a whole set.

How many digits do casino websites utilize in their RNG algorithms? A typical slot machine goes from a million to a billion numbers per game.

The RNG also makes sure that players cannot cheat too.

What’s a House Edge?

If neither you nor the casino websites can’t cheat, why do you still lose more often than you win?

Every casino game gives the casino a slight advantage and this is by design. It’s a long-term advantage and it means that the player has a slightly lower shot of winning a full payout.

It doesn’t mean every player is going to lose 5% each game. It only means that over a period of time, that machine will earn the casino 5% in profits. The machine earns this amount over hundreds of games played by numerous people.

Here’s how this works:

Say you’re playing a slot machine with a 5% house edge. Over a long period of time, the machine will payout only 95% of player winnings. You could still put in $10 and lose all your cash or hit the jackpot and win thousands.

What About Card Games?

Not all casino games run on luck. Other games, like Texas-Hold’em Poker and Blackjack, require some strategy and decisions from the player. You’re still relying on luck but at the same time, you’re the one deciding which cards to play and discard.

The industry refers to these as RNG games with a tactical element. The RNG program ensures the players have a fair, randomized chance of getting any set of cards but it’s the players who decide what they do with the cards they get.

Even these still have a house edge coded into them, so keep that in mind too. Games were the players duel with the dealer have a higher house edge than those where the players play against each other.

Who Checks for Fairness?

In the UK, the Gambling Commission regulates all online gambling. They also have a chart of key facts about the gambling industry in the UK.

Both of these guarantee that casino websites stick to modern RNG practices. They ensure that these sites do not go beyond the regulated house edge percentage. They also put in place rules so that players cannot use hacking software to get an unfair advantage.

Don’t forget to read some reviews too. Reviews are a good way of measuring how fair and how fun a game is. They’re often written by other players and professional critics who are experts in the industry.

Giving It a Try

You can give it a try too, without having to spend money. While most online casino games require a minimum deposit, there are those that let you play for free.

These are a little limited in terms of what you can do and what you can win. Treat them like mini samples that let you get a taste of the real deal. When you’ve given them a shot, it’ll be up to you if you want to deposit and play with bigger stakes.

There were instances where a website cheated when it came to free demos. They would promise a full payout when the player is using the demo but then reduce the payout without notification as soon as the player plays the real thing.

It’s fortunate that casino websites that do this get blacklisted very quickly.

Jump into a Casino Website Today

Some people play for money. Others play for fun or as a social activity.

You might not have the time to visit a physical casino. It’s fortunate that there are dozens of online casino websites for you to try out.

Don’t jump in without precaution.

Feel free to contact us and we’ll help you get your feet wet. We’ve got a lot of casino reviews and lists of casino games you can play for free to test the waters.